#IWSG — Do Writers Read?

This post is for Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers Support Group (click the link for details on what that means and how to join. You will also find a list of bloggers signed up to the challenge that are worth checking out. The first Wednesday of every month, we all post our thoughts, fears or words of encouragement for fellow writers.

This month’s question – It’s been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who does not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extension of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don’t enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

To be honest, I’ve never heard any recommend NOT reading as part of writing. In fact, I’m drenched in quotes about “To write is to read”. Here, see what you think:

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” — Stephen King

“Writing is reading inside out.” –John Updike

“…write every day… Read intensely. Then see what happens.” — Ray Bradbury

“When I want to read a novel, I write one.” — Benjamin Disraeli

“I’ll read something, maybe the Psalms, maybe, again, something from Mr. Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson. And I’ll remember how beautiful, how pliable the language is, how it will lend itself. If you pull it, it says, ‘Okay.’ I remember that, and I start to write.” — Maya Angelou

“If you want to be a good writer, you have to read, because that’s how you learn about what makes good writing.” — Tommie DePoala

“All writers I know are readers first and foremost…” — Mark Billingham

“Writers read. That’s what they do.” — Anonymous

“Good reading makes for damn hard writing.” — Richard Brinsley Sheridan

“[R]ead a lot, write a lot” is the great commandment.” — Stephen King

“Read a lot. Write a lot. Have fun.” –Daniel Pinkwater

How about you? I’ll come check out your posts.

More on reading

I Have a Confession: I’m a Whale Reader

A Bunch of Resources for Read Across America Day

More IWSG articles

A Great Place to Write

Does Your Writing Surprise You?

Am I creative?

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Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the Man vs. Nature saga. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice,  a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, In the Footsteps of Giants, Winter 2021. You can find her tech ed books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning

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